XLR8® continues to foster the development of grassroots sport through to the games elite. In preparation for the 2007/08 sports season, the Wellington sports franchises joined together for the inaugural XLR8® sports day. In attendance were representatives from the Hurricanes Super 14 Rugby Union, Wellington Firebirds Men’s Cricket, Wellington Blaze Women’s Cricket, Phoenix Football, Team Wellington Football, Wellington Saints Basketball, Pulse Netball, Wellington Netball, Black Ferns Women’s Rugby Union and the NZ Women’s Football Ferns.
The day was an overwhelming success, with over 60 players running, jumping, striking, catching and diving their way around the Basin Reserve. 6 teams competed in a game of Football, Touch Rugby and Softball with the assistance of U19 NZ Representative pitchers and catchers. Whilst some athletes shone through in their game of choice, all showed why they are at the top of their game, sharing ideas, having a go at a sport which may usually be outside their comfort zones and having a great time doing it. Athletes got an appreciation of the skills other sports bring to the table and put a name to a face sharing mutual admiration of each other.
Sport again proved to be a great tool in bringing people together and proving its worth in a number of ways. Matthew Bell (Firebirds) recognised the athlete’s willingness to pit their skills against one another, whilst Tamati Ellison (Hurricanes) spoke of the opportunity to mingle and establish new networks, share common problems and successes around the environment of elite sport.
The scores were not the only focus of the day, although it would be fair to say competitive instincts took over on more than one occasion with the eventual winners being made up of ‘XLR8® Team Red’: Lucy Doolan - Blaze, Mindy Hodgson - Blaze, Jimmy Gopperth – Hurricanes, Jacob Ellison – Hurricanes, Fraser Quarterman – Firebirds, Michael Johnson – Hurricanes, Zac Guildford – Hurricanes and Chris Gores - Team Wellington.
XLR8® would like to acknowledge Cricket Wellington for hosting the day and the cooperation of players and management for making the day a success. We would also like to thank NZ Softball for providing the catcher and pitchers, and Garratt Williamson (Air New Zealand Cup Rugby Union Referee) for blowing the whistle on the touch rugby. The 2008/09
XLR8® sports day is already in the pipeline with aspirations of expanding the format to assist not just the teams physical exploits, but building stronger support networks and developing ideas that will benefit both the players and management of the Wellington sports community.
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